Canadian beaver vs Gambian Mongoose

Castor canadensis compared with Mungos gambianus

Key Differences

• Canadian beaver is Not Evaluated while Gambian Mongoose is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Canadian beaver	Gambian Mongoose
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Castoridae (Beavers)	Herpestidae
Genus	Castor (Beavers)	Mungos
Species	Castor canadensis	Mungos gambianus

Evolutionary Relationship

Canadian beaver and Gambian Mongoose share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Canadian beaver

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~15.0M

Trend: Stable →

Gambian Mongoose

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Canadian beaver	Gambian Mongoose
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	1.0 m	—
Average Weight	25.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Canadian beaver

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (15 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Argentina, Chile).

Gambian Mongoose

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Canadian beaver

The largest rodent in North America, Canadian beavers weigh up to 32 kg and are master ecosystem engineers inhabiting rivers, lakes, and wetlands across Canada and the northern United States. By felling trees and constructing dams up to hundreds of meters long, beavers create ponds that provide habitat for hundreds of species. Their lodges and canals transform entire watersheds. Once nearly hunted to extinction for their fur, beaver populations have recovered strongly.